Nemesia annaba, Zonstein, 2019

Zonstein, Sergei L., 2019, New data on the spider genus Nemesia in Algeria (Araneae: Nemesiidae), Israel Journal of Entomology (Oxford, England) 49 (1), pp. 69-130 : 88-94

Nemesia annaba n. sp.

( Figs 49–65)

LSID: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:7B93ED24-8C26-4226-AA10-CD7F73FE357B .

Etymology: The species name is refers to the type locality, Annaba, and is a noun in apposition.

Diagnosis: In having a similar type of dorsal abdominal pattern, N. annaba n. sp. resembles two South European species, N. congener O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1874 and N. dubia O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1874 . The shape of the palpal organ (provided with a moderately long, tapering and gradually curved embolus) in N. annaba n. sp. also resembles the corresponding structures in the two latter species, but differs from them in details: in the new species the embolus is noticeably thicker and tapers more towards the apex than in N. congener , and the narrow distal part of the embolus in N. annaba n. sp. appears to be considerably longer than in N. dubia ( Figs 54, 56, 57 cf. Simon 1914: fig. 32; Blasco Feliu 1986 b: fig. 2b). The shape of the spermathecae in N. annaba n. sp. is similar to that in N. tanit n. sp. ( Figs 63, 64, 139). However, representatives of N. annaba n. sp. have normally developed PMS with numerous spigots, while in N. tanit n. sp. PMS are noticeably reduced ( Fig. 65 cf. Fig. 140).

Description: Male (holotype MNHN 292/AR4485; Fig. 49): Body length 13.40.

Colour in alcohol: carapace, chelicerae, palps and legs medium ochre brown, with darker brown clypeus, H-shaped area on carapace and all femora; eye tubercle brownish black; sternum, labium, maxillae, and leg coxae intensely brownish yellow; ventral surface of abdomen and PLS light brownish yellow; dorsal abdomen light ochre brown with medium brown pattern consisting of extensive dimming anteriorly, interrupted and diffuse axial band medially and several pairs of widely spaced lateral chevrons posteriorly.

Cephalothorax dorsally and ventrally as in Figs 50 and 52, respectively. Carapace 4.76 long, 3.79 wide. Eye tubercle as in Fig. 51. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.14(0.20), ALE 0.22, PLE 0.21, PME 0.11, AME–AME 0.15(0.09), ALE– AME 0.10(0.07), ALE–PLE 0.07, PLE–PME 0.03, PME–PME 0.35. Chelicerae: each furrow with 7 promarginal teeth and about 15 very small mesobasal denticles; rastellum with 6 heavy and a few smaller cone teeth in front of cheliceral fang. Labium 0.40 long, 0.91 wide. Sternum 2.57 long, 1.96 wide. Each maxilla with 3 long thin cuspules confined to inner maxillary heel.

Palp and leg structures. Tibia and metatarsus I as in Fig. 53. Spines (palpal patella and tarsi I–IV aspinose). Palp: femur d1–1–2; tibia dorsally with 3 apical and one subapical spines; cymbium with about 15 short dorsal spines. Leg I: femur d1–1–1–1–2, pd0–1–1, rd1–1–1; patella p1–1; tibia p1–1, pv1–1–M; rv1–1–1; metatarsus p1–1, r1, v1–1–2. Leg II: femur d1–1–1–1–2, pd0–1–1, rd1–1–1; patella p1–1; tibia p1–1–1, v2–2–3(2); metatarsus p1–1, r1, v2–1–2. Leg III: femur d 1–1– 1–1–2, pd1–1–1, rd1–1–1; patella p1–1, r1; tibia d2(1)–1, p1(0)–1–1, r1(0)–1–1, v2–2–2; metatarsus d5(7), p1–1–1, r1–1, v2–2–3; Leg IV: femur d 1–1–1–1–2, pd1–1, rd1(0)–1–1; patella r1; tibia d1, p1, r1–1–1, v2–2–2; metatarsus d10(15), p1–1–1, v3–2–3. Metatarsal preening combs absent. Scopula entire on tarsi I and II; entire and distal on metatarsi I and II; divided and mixed with setae on tarsus III, absent on tarsus IV. Trichobothria: 2 rows of 9–10 in each row on tibiae, 13–15 on metatarsi, 12–14 on tarsi, 11–12 on cymbium. Paired claws of tarsi I–IV with 8–10 teeth in each row.

Leg and palp measurements:

Palp I II III IV Femur 2.56 3.99 3.47 3.22 4.34 Patella 1.24 2.46 1.92 1.47 2.31 Tibia 1.66 2.69 2.39 2.27 4.72 Metatarsus – 2.67 2.46 2.84 4.08 Tarsus 0.82 2.05 1.98 1.84 2.23 Total 6.28 13.86 12.22 11.64 17.68

Copulatory organs. Palpal tibia moderately short, dorsally with few apical and subapical spines ( Figs 54, 55). Palpal organ with moderately long, slightly curved and gradually tapering embolus ( Figs 54, 56, 57).

Spinnerets as in Fig. 58. PMS: length 0.38; diameter 0.23. PLS: maximum diameter 0.49; length of basal, medial and apical segments 0.73, 0.39, 0.19, respectively; total length 1.31; apical segment domed.

Female (paratype MNHN 292/AR4485; Fig. 59): Body length 23.90.

Colour in alcohol: as in male, but clypeus and margins of carapace paler, whereas chelicerae and dorsal pattern on carapace darker and more contrast than in male.

Cephalothorax dorsally and ventrally as in Figs 60 and 62, respectively. Carapace 7.96 long, 5.67 wide. Eye tubercle as in Fig. 61. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.20(0.28), ALE 0.38, PLE 0.36, PME 0.20, AME–AME 0.20(0.12), ALE– AME 0.20(0.16), ALE–PLE 0.10, PLE–PME 0.04, PME–PME 0.56. Chelicerae: each furrow with 6 promarginal teeth and 19–20 mesobasal denticles; rastellum with 5–6 heavy and about 25 smaller cone teeth in front of cheliceral fang. Labium 0.77 long, 1.32 wide. Sternum 3.86 long, 2.91 wide. Each maxilla with 2–3 cuspules confined to inner maxillary heel.

Palp and leg structures. Spines (palpal tarsus and tarsi I–II with 10–12 small ventroapical spines; patella IV and tarsi III–IV aspinose). Palp: femur d1–1–1–2, pd1; patella p1–1; tibia p1–1, v2–2–3; tarsus v2. Leg I: femur d1–1–1–1–1–2, pd1; patella p1–1; tibia p1–1, v1–1–3(2); metatarsus v2–1(0)–3(2). Leg II: femur d1–1–1–1–2, pd1; patella 1–1; tibia p1–1, v1–1–3; metatarsus p1, v2–1–3. Leg III: femur d1–1–1–1–2, pd1–1, rd1–1; patella p1–1–1; tibia p1–1, r1–1, v2(1)–2–3; metatarsus d1, p1–1–1–1, r1–1–1, v2–2–3. Leg IV: femur d 1–1–1–1+few bristles, pd1; tibia r1–1–1, v2–2–3; metatarsus p1, rd1–1, v2–2–3. Metatarsal preening combs absent. Scopula entire and distal on metatarsi I and II; narrowly divided on palpal tarsus and tarsus I, widely divided on tarsus II; elsewhere absent. Trichobothria: 2 rows of 10–11 in each row on tibiae, 14–16 on metatarsi, 13–15 on tarsi, 11 on palpal tarsus. Palpal claw with 4 promarginal teeth. Inner/outer margins of PTC I–II and PTC III–IV with 4/5 and 4/4 teeth, respectively.

Leg and palp measurements:

Palp I II III IV Femur 3.52 4.83 4.52 3.75 5.31 Patella 2.15 3.21 2.82 2.36 3.52 Tibia 2.06 2.95 2.45 2.08 5.45 Metatarsus – 2.61 2.46 2.85 4.30 Tarsus 2.26 1.66 1.68 1.82 2.11 Total 9.99 15.26 13.93 12.86 20.69

Copulatory organs. Spermathecae bowl-shaped with slightly curved stumpy stalks ending with dilated heads (see Figs 63, 64).

Spinnerets as in Fig. 65. PMS relatively large and thick: length 0.61; diameter 0.39. PLS: maximum diameter 0.78; length of basal, medial and apical segments 1.14, 0.52, 0.15, respectively; total length 1.81; apical segment domed.

Variation: Carapace length in females varies from 6.3–8.5 mm. Number of maxillary cuspules in females varies from 1 to 6. Darker dorsal pattern of the abdomen in some females appears poorly discernible.

Holotype: ♂ Algeria: Annaba Province: surroundings of Annaba (labelled as “Bône»; 36°54′N 7°46′E), no other data, probably 1882–1885, E. Simon (MNHN 292/AR4485).

Paratypes: Algeria: Annaba Province: 5♀, same collection data as holotYpe (MNHN 292/AR4485); 8♀ , Annaba (labelled as “Bône»), no other data (MNHN 12017/AR4430).

Distribution: Known only from the type locality.